Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Getting Your Turkey (in SF)

So many turkeys to choose from, so little time. Thanksgiving approaches, so get the best birds while you can with this guide to turkeys around town.

Bi-Rite, 3639 18th Street, (415) 241-9760Their star turkey this year is a Bill Niman's BN Ranch Heritage bird ($6.99/lb), which are raised by Niman himself. They roam on pastures in Bolinas and Turlock, CA, have more dark meat than regular turkeys, and are super flavorful. They're air-chilled so you get more meat for your money. Bi-Rite also has BN Ranch's pasture-raised, air-chilled broad-breasted turkey with more white breast meat that is $3.99/lb. You can find Diestel Ranch's Heidi's Hens naturally-fed organic turkeys, which are raised in California, and also $3.99/lb. Their cheapest bird is a non-organic Diestel Ranch turkey, starting at $2.99/lb. They've also got ducks, geese, and full Thanksgiving dinners, which you can smaple tomorrow at the store from 4-7 pm. Almost every year Bi-Rite sells out, but do sell them up until the day before Thanksgiving.

4505 Meats, meats@4505meats.comFor a special Thanksgiving feast, grab a Turducken filled with sausage and cornbread stuffing from 4505 Meats! It's 25 juicy pounds of food that will feed about 25 people (unless you're a group of linebackers). For $275, you get an aluminum roasting pan, turkey thermometer and easy-to-follow slow-roasting instructions. The bird itself will be resting on a bed of brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and seasonal root vegetables, complete with a bag of herbs that will be used to blanket the bird during the roast. They also include luscious Turducken gravy. Order by today Nov. 12th (but a little bird told us there will still be extra orders available next week) via the email address above, and include all your contact info and desired pick-up date. Then they'll call you for payment information!

Fatted Calf, 320 Fell Street, (415) 400-5614Check out their Bourbon Red Heritage turkeys, which are lean and have a gamey flavor. Fatted Calf has all different sizes, and start at $7.25/lb. Their smallest birds are 8-10 lbs. The shop only ordered 50, so get them while you can!

For traditional turkeys, they've got Diestel natural ($3.69/lb), organic ($4.69/lb) and heirloom ($5.99/lb) birds ranging from 6-24 lbs, as well as Mary's heritage birds that are going fast. These are $6.99/lb and go from 7-24 lbs. If you want to get wild and crazy, pick up a Turducken filled with applewood bacon stuffing. They'll even make it for you the day before Thanksgiving, if you're desperate. The smallest, which feed 10-15, are $135 and up. These fine folks also make "Embarcadero Birds" for the Turducken experience without the enormity. Essentially a reverse Turducken, a chicken is stuffed with a turkey tenderloin and a duck breast with applewood bacon stuffing. This feeds 4-8 people and starts at $9.99/lb. Also get geese ($8.99/lb), Capon roosters ($6.99/lb), and a variety of sides for the big day.

Whole Foods Potrero Hill, 450 Rhode Island Street, (415) 552-1155Their private label brand comes in all different sizes and is an affordable $1.99/lb. They've got petite (6-10 lbs), natural Diestel turkeys which are $2.49/lb, heirloom Heidi's Hens turkeys at $4.49/lb, and Heidi's Hens organic birds at $3.49/lb. If you don't feel like cooking, slap down $80 for a fully cooked meal that serves around 8 people. You get a roasted turkey, herbed stuffed, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, dinner rolls, turkey gravy and a pumpkin pie. You can also score just the side dishes themselves, a Latin-themed dinner or a vegan dinner featuring a Field Roast for about $50. The last day to order these is Nov. 23rd.

Marina Meats, 2395 Chestnut Street, (415) 673-6700Score local, all-natural turkeys in all sizes from Willie Bird Turkeysin Sonoma, a farm that's been family-owned for 75 years, or Martinelli Farms (also in California). Exact prices are not set yet, but will be soon. Order them a couple of days beforeup until the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Bryan's Quality Meats, 3473 California Street, (415) 752-3430Here, they've got Diestel natural turkeys ($2.79/lb) and organic birds ($3.99/lb) up to about 20 or 30 lbs, as well as petite Diestel turkeys, which are 8-10 lbs starting at $2.79/lb. They've also got non-organic geese ($9.99/lb) and ducks ($4.49/lb). Birds can be ordered all month and available for pick up through the week of Thanksgiving.

Avedano's, 235 Cortland Avenue, (415) 285-6328This old-school butcher shopfeatures sustainably and humanely-raised birds from Major's Ranch, where turkeys live on an almond orchard and feast on almonds all day, making their meat quite juicy. These start at $5.99/lb. They also carry full-flavored Mary's free-range, organic ($4.25/lb) and the smaller heritage turkeys ($7.50/lb), of which they're already selling out. Find birds up to 25 lbs! You can order over the phone or pick up up to the day before the big to-do. Avedano's also has ducks ($5/lb), geese ($7.50/lb), and sustainably-raised, local rabbits, which are $12/lb. They'll also offer housemade country sausage for your stuffing recipes!

Drewes Brothers1706 Church Street, (415) 821-0515This butcher shop has been around 100 years and is still going strong. Just for the holidays, they've got free range, all natural Willie Bird Turkeys at $3.09/lb, while the organic ones start at $4.29/lb, and go up to 32 lbs! Petite Diestel turkeys start at $3.09/lb, while organic ones go for $4.29/lb. Drewes Brothers also do smoked turkeys, chickens and cornish game hens, as well as house made Turducken for the first time! They've been getting more orders for Turducken than expected so call ahead and reserve one by the 22nd. They're stuffed with andouille sausage, cranberries and pinenuts, and range from $135-150. They'll also brine your birds for you, for $4.99/lb. They'll take your bird orders until the day before Thanksgiving.

Guerra Quality Meats, 490 Taraval Street, (415) 564-0585Guerra takes orders for fresh and cooked turkeys alike. Diestel natural fresh turkeys start at $2.49/lb in all sizes, while Diestel roasted turkeys are priced at $3.99/lb. They also do fully-cooked Thanksgiving dinners with stuffing, pies, mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies. If they don't have what you want, they'll also do special orders! Call ahead or pick up your bird up through the week of Thanksgiving.